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Istanbul Sapphire, the Blue Beacon

Highest Point of the City is now open for public and its new dwellers

10-Apr-11

Dubai, UAE; Designed by Tabanlioglu Architects of Istanbul, the contemporary icon of the city was inaugurated by Prime Minister of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Besides being a luxury residential and a monumental contribution to urban aesthetic, with its observation deck at the highest point of the city and its boutique shopping facility, Sapphire is now ready to join the city life as a vibrant meeting point.

The 261 meter Sapphire residential building rises in agreement with the surrounding high-rises in the heart of Istanbul. The newly completed structure is the tallest residential building in Europe and 97th highest building in the world. The total construction area of the 66 floor creation is 165,000m.

Notwithstanding the fact that it is a skyscraper, the design oozes a human feeling by means of environmentally-friendly facilities such as the naturally ventilated vertical gardens at every three floors.

As of the fourth level, the form vaguely broadens downwards and the glass covering the surface of the building traces a curve and then extends horizontally as the skirt of the building, covering the restaurants and stores zone of the 46,000 m boutique style shopping mall exclusively designed to offer a high-end shopping. Above the retail space, there are four designated housing zones.

The façade consists of two independent shells. The interiors are protected from adverse weather conditions and noise by the outer shell. Environmental friendly energy systems guarantee low consumption levels. In an ingenious display of architectural design, the void space between the two shells is being utilized each apartment’s garden and terrace. A garden floor is located every three floors, and 9 apartment units surround the naturally ventilated atrium. All apartments have either balconies or large decks and gardens, offering a natural & warm setting for the residents at the higher levels, who also benefit by a spectacular 360 degree panorama from the highest point in the city of Istanbul. Above and beyond, the observation terrace at 236meters is the most sought new attraction open to the public.

Another standout characteristic of Sapphire are the floor recreation areas which are located every 9 floors, featuring a mini golf course at 163 meters with breathtaking views of Bosphorus, a swimming pool at 60 meters overlooking the Istanbul forests, and state of the art lounge and meeting rooms designed to provide the residents with an exceptional lifestyle.

Istanbul Sapphire is another milestone design by world renowned Tabanlioglu Architects, and a powerful addition to the city’s aesthetic value with its cutting edge elegance, transparent structure and high technology idiosyncrasies.

ISTANBUL and SAPPHIRE Being the capital to three empires throughout its history, at the crossroad between East and West, Istanbul symbolizes interaction, transformation and development; the City has been the center of commercial control and coordination, thanks to its geography; today the city maintains these functions at its "Central Business Districts- CBD". The Levent-Maslak axis, that developed during the last two decades, is the main CBD of Istanbul, adapted the global changes and contemporary needs, as its infrastructure is appropriate in terms of communications and high technology. In the process of becoming a metropolis, and an international hub with a population of more than 15 million people, Istanbul is going through a fast urban transformation, in parallel with the changing economic and social structure. In the last few decades, especially due to increasing use of automobiles, luxury condominiums have been established in the suburbs of Istanbul, like in many other metropolis around the world. Recently, major investments in residential complexes are also contributing to bringing life back to city center; mix-use complexes and high rise residential towers arise or industrial buildings transform into elegant homes, designer lofts or idiosyncratic spots. The construction of prestigious international buildings adds a permanent economic and aesthetic value to the city. Without question, Istanbul is a city of youthful dynamism with its eye on the high-tech future and the profits and innovations.

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Tabanlioglu Architects

In 1990, Architect Murat Tabanlioglu established Tabanlıoğlu Architects in collaboration with Dr. Hayati Tabanlioglu, in Istanbul. Architect Melkan Gürsel Tabanlioglu joined the group in 1995. Ozdem Gürsel is the third partner responsible of the management of the company consisting of 100 personnel, operating predominantly in Turkey. With more then 50 years of experience, Tabanlioglu works comprise a wide range of building types including innovative mix-use projects. Searching for new efficiencies in terms of global and environmental needs and developments, Tabanlioglu has been awarded several international and national prizes; the company ranks 79th in “BD World Architecture” top 100 list of year 2009. On the international arena, Tabanlioğlu Architects were the proud winners of the prestigious International Architecture Award (Public Service) at the International Commercial Property Awards held in London end November 2010, for the Tripoli Congress Center. During this ceremony, Melkan Gursel Tabanlioglu and Murat Tabanlioğlu secured also the award for the “Architect of the Year 2010”! This milestone, fortified their solid positioning amongst the World’s leading Architects. Tabanlioglu Architects also claimed regional fame, by winning the Cityscape Awards in Dubai for “Architecture in the Emerging Markets 2010” in the Community Built Category.

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